New BP trouble feeding

[trousersnakes]

So I have had my BP for a little over two weeks. I have tried to feed twice so far with no luck. The first time I got him to strike quick but then he dropped it and left it alone. This last time i thought I had everything figured out. I tried heating up the FT mouse with a blow dryer and then let the room go very dim for 20 minutes. Once my BP became somewhat active I dangled the mouse in front of him for 5 minutes at a time over the course of 30 minutes or so. How long do you usually offer before you give up so you do not stress the snake? All my temps and humidity are okay. Is it just not settled in enough yet?

[cmack91]

if mine wont take it after dangling for more than 2 minutes, i just set it in the tub and leave it, and its usually gone in a few hours. im kinda impatient so i give up really fast, but i'd say 5minutes

[trousersnakes]

Hmmm interesting I figured he wouldn't eat it if it was just laying on the ground so after I kept trying to dangle I just removed it.

[cmack91]

just leave it in for a night and see if he takes it, i fnot you can scent the room by leaving a rodent close to his cage, or you can brain the rat, its a little gross but sometimes it works

[youbeyouibei]

So I have had my BP for a little over two weeks. I have tried to feed twice so far with no luck. The first time I got him to strike quick but then he dropped it and left it alone. This last time i thought I had everything figured out. I tried heating up the FT mouse with a blow dryer and then let the room go very dim for 20 minutes. Once my BP became somewhat active I dangled the mouse in front of him for 5 minutes at a time over the course of 30 minutes or so. How long do you usually offer before you give up so you do not stress the snake? All my temps and humidity are okay. Is it just not settled in enough yet?

What was he eating before you got him? Was he a pet store pick-up or from a breeder? If he was on live, then that might be why he's not taking f/t. If you're wanting to switch him to frozen thawed, that can be a process, to say the least and not one that I'd recommend starting in the winter. Most of my animals slow down (every 5 day schedule to every 10 days) and some flat refuse to eat (live, even) during the winter months due to the change in temperatures. Can you contact the breeder/store you got him from and find out what he was eating there? If nothing else, I'd say wait until the next time you'd be feeding him anyway and offer him a live rat pup, if you can get them in your area or if not, a live mouse. Just make sure to watch that he doesn't get bitten or injured when you drop it in the tub. It may just be his personality...I have a female het albino who flat out refuses anything: rats, mice, soft furs, gerbils, etc. during the winter months. I monitor her weight and keep an eye on her and took her to the vet the first winter she did that but have come to the realization that I don't need to stress it...that's just her being her, apparently, so it might just be that he doesn't want to eat during the cooler temps. Good luck and hope that helps.

[kitedemon]

If the temps are not correct very few snakes will feed at all, too warm or too cool.

What are your temps? hot /cool/ and ambient?